Some of you subscribe to Joni's newsletters but for those that don't, I really thought this was a pertinent message and one to share. Joni has granted me permission. I hope you enjoy it. Also some information at bottom on how to support our ministry as well as upcoming events. Blessing!
Patience & Kairos Timing
By Joni Ames
Dear Friends,
There's nothing quite like experience to teach us things! Through some health issues I've experienced over the past couple of months, the Lord has been speaking to me of the importance of both patience and kairos timing in order to attain my healing.
In the midst of what I was going through, the Lord said, "You have need of patience!" - Referencing the scripture that says, (35) Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. (36) For you have need of patience (endurance), so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. (Heb 10:35-36)
Patience is defined as:
The capacity, quality, or fact of being patient, long-suffering, resignation, forbearance. It denotes the capacity to endure hardship, difficulty, or inconvenience without complaint. - Ouch! - Without complaint?!
Patience emphasizes calmness, self-control, and the willingness or ability to tolerate delay. - Ouch #2! - Tolerate delay?!
Edmund Blade once said, "Our patience will achieve more than our force."
Long-suffering is long and patient endurance, as of through being wronged or through provocation.
Resignation implies acceptance of or submission to something; trying, as out of despair or necessity.
Forbearance denotes restraint, as in holding back from retaliating, demanding what is due, or voicing disapproval.
Now, we need to understand that patience is not opposite of kairos timing. Rather, it is the road map to it! We must be willing to be patient to reach the point of proper timing, and wise enough to recognize and move forward in it once it arrives.
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KAIROS TIMING
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Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the right, opportune, or supreme moment. The ancient Greeks had two words for time, chronos and kairos. Chronos refers to chronological or sequential time; kairos signifies a time in between, a moment of undetermined period of time in which something special happens. While chronos is quantitative, kairos has a qualitative nature.
Kairos also means weather in both ancient and modern Greek. In plural it is καιροι -kairoi and it means "the times".
A kairos moment is as if a cloud filled sky suddenly parts and lets the sun shine through for only a moment. As the clouds continue to move, that opening closes as quickly as it opened. It is vital to move forward in a kairos moment of time when the "open window" of opportunity is provided, and everything falls into place.
In these present times, it is vital to get an understanding of this, as it could spare our finances, relationships, or even our very lives!
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PATIENCE IN TRANSITION
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The whole earth is in a time of transition. We need to learn how to transition from patience into our kairos moments. Some have serious promises they think they have been waiting on God to fulfil, but he is probably waiting on many of us. Sometimes it’s hard to transition from being in a “Come along side another person” kind of position into becoming leader. But we must not let the paralysis of analysis hold us back. Learning to be patient is important, as well as learning the proper timing to stop waiting and move into the kairos timing once it presents itself.
James said, “By your patience possess your souls. (Luke 21:19)
There is nothing like a near death experience to cause us afterwards to press towards that which is truly important. Many times, what we go through provides the pressure necessary to push us forward towards our purpose, call, destiny, and goals.
(3) We glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; (4) and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (5) Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
Tribulation produces perseverance. The dramas, traumas, and difficulties we experience in life can be the very thing we need that will cause us to get up and fight for what we are called to do. Kind of like the saying, "Whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger!"
I love what Rom 4:20 says: He (Abraham) did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
Romans 4:18 says, "Abraham, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." - CONTRARY to hope, IN hope he believed!
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FAITH + WORKS = PROMISES FULFILLED
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We must understand that faith, alone, doesn't cut it. Talk is cheap. It is only when our actions match what we say that things are accomplished:
(17) Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (18) But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (19) You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! (20) But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:17-20)
So many quit as they experience trials or the trial of waiting. They quit when they are on the very threshold of the blessing! They then have to start all over.
Why? It could be stubbornness, lack of commitment, lack of humility, impatience, fear (unbelief), hanging out with and listening to the wrong people.
Some are simply a slave to the past by remembering how they have been rejected before, and therefore refusing to “take any chances” that history would repeat itself, so they reject before they get rejected again.
Philippians 3:12-16 says:
(12) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. (16) Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
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ATTITUDE DETERMINES ALTITUDE
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Through my recent trials, the Lord also told me, "Count it all joy!" - Oh yay! - Right! - "Joy to be going through THIS?" I thought. And He said, "Yes. Joy to have the opportunity to show me that you believe me, and not your circumstances or the enemy's lies."
James 1:2-4 says:
(2) My brethren, count it all JOY when you fall into various trials,
(3) Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
(4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promises!”
So every time I had a pain or thought of complaining, I started saying or singing something about having joy! "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!!!"
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BEWARE OF WHO/WHAT YOU ARE SWIMMING WITH!
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When Crocodile Man Steve Irwin got pierced in his heart and killed by that Stingray fish a few years ago, I felt there was a prophetic lesson to be learned. I asked the Lord about it and He said, "Tell my people to watch out who they swim with. Toxic people talk sick, and they will pierce you in the heart of relationships, and even your purpose, call, and destiny, and kill it and you."
Many times, the poisonous talk of supposed "friends" can separate people from a spouse, other family members, friends, church or workplace relationships, and that which we are called to achieve - all through their negative talk. We need to recognize and set healthy boundaries so that we are not poisoned by their toxic talk.
I saw a sign recently that read, "A dark room is where negatives develop" Don't let anyone trap you in their dark room by their toxic comments.
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FOLLOW GOD'S DIRECTIVES, NOT THAT OF THE EVIL SPIES IN THE LAND
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Hebrews 3:15 says "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
Giants in the land are a sign we are in the right place. The Lord showed me one day that the giants are at the gates of our promised land to scare off those it wasn't promised to, and to keep it secure for us. We need to not be pressured by fear or get lazy, but simply walk on in!
(2) Do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (13) For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, (14) saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." (15) And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (Heb 6:12-15)
They key is to hang out long enough after the patient endurance so that we actually RECEIVE the promise!
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SET GOALS AND SEE THEM THROUGH
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Even the world knows it is important to write down and pursue our goals. Donald Trump was being interviewed and was asked if it was important to write down our goals. He emphatically said, "Yes." When asked why, he replied, "Those who write down their goals will achieve them. Those who do not will not."
There is an element of accountability that comes with writing down our goals. Seeing it in front of our faces causes us to have that constant reminder and to move towards our goals. Also, setting attainable dates that we hope to reach various levels of achievement is very helpful
(2) Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. (3) For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. (4) "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. (Habakuk 2:2-4)
Tyler Perry (Of Madea plays and movie fame): was on a recent talk show and was asked who had been a major influence in his life to cause him achieve success. He told the story of how he was applying for a job and the man interviewing him looked over his resume and said, "You never finish anything do you?" Tyler Perry didn't get the job, but that comment changed his life. He became determined to begin sticking to his commitments, and to be careful to not make ones he wouldn't see through. Today he is one of the most successful men in the entertainment business.
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VALUE THE PEOPLE GOD PLACES IN YOUR LIFE
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Don't acquiesce the gifts of awesome people God places in your life. Often we entangle ourselves in unnecessary arguments that cause relationships to collapse and bridges to be burned that we may need to travel on again. Some even miss out on the right mate because they refuse to be patient enough to see and acknowledge the gift that comes packaged in the form of a person God brings into their life.
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LEARN TO BRIDLE THE TONGUE
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Patience produces character. Sometimes what we do NOT say is as important as what we do say.
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. (James 1:26)
If we learn how to keep our mouth shut and keep our opinions to ourself, it could help keep our job, reputation, marriage, friendships, position in our church or community, and even our finances. It may even keep us from getting a nasty traffic ticket!
A friend of mine likes to speed. Every time they get stopped, they get mad if they are not able to get out of the ticket and start making comments about the officer making his "quota." That never helps. It usually helps him find another charge to add to it.
Soft answers turn away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. (Prov. 15:1) We need to have the patience to keep our mouth shut when it is appropriate to do so.
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PATIENCE PRODUCES HOPE
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Patience produces hope. David encouraged himself in the Lord. (1 Samuel 30:6b) We can too. We can learn to self talk and encourage ourselves into things instead of out of them.
Patience can cause us to become content and make the best of a situation instead of destroying it. And the Bible says godliness with contentment is great gain.(1 Timothy 6:6)
Patience and contentment can cause us to appreciate people, situations, and the life we live, and save us from anxiety, depression, and even health issues that could come upon us as a result of negativity.
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PATIENCE IS REWARDING
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The Bible says that in our patience we possess our own soul. (Luke 21:19)
There are times when people are so impatient with the Lord that they even take the law into their own hands, and end up in serious trouble. Even in prison.
Patience will even keep us from walking in anger. I saw a sign that read, "Anger is only one letter away from Danger." Patience will keep us out of a lot of trouble that we don't have to get into.
Patience will help you see things from a different perspective. Revelations 4:1 says, "Come up here and I'll show you of things to come." When we see from God's viewpoint, we have a better view. His ways and thoughts are much higher than ours. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
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PATIENCE CAN REDEEM THE TIMES
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Many people church hop because they don't have the patience to see things through to completion. Therefore they lose their credibility and have to start all over again in a brand-new church. Why? Because pastors need to know those who labor among them. But then again they get impatient. They leave just before the blessing of trust and favor at that church too. Then they have to start that proving thing all over again.
Lack of patience causes us to miss out on a lot. Lack of patience causes us to lose out on time. Time is life. Lack of patience causes us to waste parts of our life. And life is too precious for that.
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BE PATIENT ENOUGH TO LISTEN
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Having good communications skills includes being a good listener.
A lot of healing can come as a result of being a good listener and being patient enough to really hear others' perspectives as well as God's.
Sometimes we miss out on knowing a person for who they really are because we do not take the time to really listen. We jump to conclusions with our own opinions about what they mean and huge arguments result. We blame it on the spirit of Leviathan when it's really a spirit of impatience on our own part.
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PATIENCE AND TIMING
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What does all of this have to do with the prophetic? Everything!
Timing can be everything.
There are kairos moments in time when we need to speak up and give a word of the Lord to someone. There are other times when we just need to shut up and pray.
If we are patient enough to hear what the Lord has to say about a situation, we will say things in the right timing and the right way, and it will be received.
If we just blurt, disaster can result. We need to listen for the heart of God. Not just blurt out of opinion.
It's God's kindness that leads us to repentance. (Romans 2:4-6) There is healing inside of kindness.
Patience, patience, patience. In our patience we possess our souls. In our patience we possess our health and even our wealth. In our patience we possess right relationships. In our patience,we possess the outcome of our destiny.
Timing is everything. Kairos moments of opportunity can be missed if we do not operate in the spirit of patience.
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PATIENCE DURING HIDDENNESS
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When you have a call on your life, God often hides you for a season now and then, for your own protection.
You may not have anyone call you out to give you a prophetic word, while everyone else gets one.
No one may see anything worthwhile in you
You may suffer miss-understandings, misinterpretation, miscommunication.
Your motives and heart may be misread.
You may have lies told about you.
You may experience false accusations.
Welcome to the club! It's all a part of the territory! The same things happened to Jesus, and He was/is perfect!
What does the Word have to say about this?
"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” (Matt. 5:11)
Inside it all, we get purged of people pleasing!
I love what Francis Frangipane says in one of his books:
“When we are baptized in the criticism of man
It inoculates us from the praise of man
So that we die to the control of man.”
That's a good thing! That is true freedom! And who the Son sets free, is free indeed!! (John 8:36)
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THINGS TO DO WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S PROMISES
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1. Renew the mind by reading the Word of God on a regular basis.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
2. Bring thoughts into obedience to Christ.
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (2 Cor 10:-3-5)
When I find my mind twirling around with all kinds of negative thoughts, I lay my hands on both sides of my head and use the above scripture and say, "Mind and thoughts, I command you in the name of Jesus to come into captivity to the obedience of Christ!" - "Stop thinking negative thoughts!" - And then I begin to wash myself with the water of the Word and scriptures such as, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" "God has GOOD plans for me!" etc.
3. Write the vision & stick to it! (Habakuk 2:2-4)
4. Do your homework! Study up and learn all you can about what you believe you are called to. If it requires practice (like learning a musical instrument) then practice all you can!
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
5. Listen! You can't learn if you keep talking. It amazes me when I see people who say they would love to sit at Bob Jones' feet and learn from him, yet when they get the opportunity, they talk incessantly instead of listening!
6. Don’t look for affirmation from people (people pleasing can kill your dreams)
But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)
7. Just do it! - Go ahead and walk into your promised land! Whatever that "it" is - JUST DO IT!!!
And finally:
8. Don’t stop! - Don't let anything start stopping you, for it will never stop stopping you!
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PRAYER
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Father, in Jesus name, help us to understand and walk in the patience you want us to have, measured with the wisdom to know the proper kairos timing to step out when we are to do so. Forgive us for procrastination and/or jumping too soon. Help us to become like the Sons of Isachaar who rightly discerned the times and the seasons. Amen
Blessings,
Joni Ames
JoniAmes@aol.com
http://www.joniames.org
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God Bless YOU -
Ken & Michele Cole
http://wantinsight.blogspot.com
michele@wantinsight.com, ken@wantinsight.com
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Bob Sorge will be here 4/4.
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Thank you for taking the time to hear our hearts. Thank you for supporting us throughout the years. You mean the world to us and we are humbled by your trust and friendship!
